BREVARD ó† Brevard College football coach Bobby Poss was fired after one season last Wednesday morning for what the school cited as irreconcilable differences.

In the aftermath, assistant coach Willis Burkett was named to interim coach last Friday while BC searches to replace Poss.

Poss, who was hired to restart the football program that had been terminated more than 50 years ago, finished 2-6 last season. He had resigned at the beginning of the day on Nov. 28, but had rescinded his decision by mid-day.

ìI was surprised by my unexpected dismissal today,î Poss said in a statement released Wednesday. ìI have spent the past 17 months working to help Brevard College build a football program.

ìI regret that my dream for the future of the football program and the vision of Brevard College were not the same, resulting in philosophical differences.î

Poss won two of his five NCHSAA 4-A titles at Reynolds High School, just southeast of Asheville.

Meanwhile, BC Athletic Director Tom Collins said in a statement that irreconcilable differences with Poss were ìto the point that they detract from the orderly function of the athletics department.î

Collins, who said Possí firing does not reflect any change in BCís commitment to football, noted that the players were to be contacted Thursday and reassured of the programís future. He also said none of the assistant coaches were fired.

The college hired Poss on Jan. 6, 2006, after two other coaches in a one-week span accepted the job and then changed their minds after visiting the campus.

As for Burkett, Collins said he would be responsible for coordinating the work of the coaching staff and advising Collins. A past president of the South Carolina Coaches†† Association, Burkett compiled what Collins terms
ìan outstanding recordî at Greenwood and Chesnee high schools.

ìI respect his perspectives and want you to know that he has my full confidence,î Collins said of Burkett.
Crawdads nip Tourists 8-6 during slugfest in Hickory

HICKORY ó The Hickory Crawdads edged the Asheville Tourists 8-6 in Single A baseball last Sunday in front of 1,959 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium. Asheville (32-17) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Hector Gomez. However, Hickory retaliated by scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. The Tourists added four more runs in the fourth and one in the seventh, but the Crawdads sealed the victory by scoring four more runs. At the plate, Asheville was led by Gomez, who finished 3-for-5 with one run and three RBIs. Getting the loss was Tourists starter Simon Ferrer (3-3), who allowed eight runs on seven hits in six innings.

In other recent Touristsí baseball action:
ï The Tourists beat the Crawdads 9-7 last Saturday in front of 3,268 fans in Hickory. Recording the win was Aneury Rodriguez (2-3), who allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out seven.

ï Hickory raced to an early 10-0 lead and held on to rip Asheville 10-4 in front of 4,326 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory last Friday. The Tourists scored two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings. Starter Keith Weiser (7-1), who allowed seven runs on eight hits in five innings, registered his first loss of the season for Asheville.

ï The Tourists won their second straight game by beating the Grasshoppers 3-1 in front of 8,371 fans in Greensboro last Thursday night. Asheville was led by right-fielder Victor Ferrante, who finished 2-for-3, with a two-run home run in the second inning. Ferrante also drove in the other run for Asheville (31-15). Starter Andy Graham (5-3), who allowed one run on seven hits in six innings, recorded the win. Tommy Baumgardner registered his fourth save of the season by hurling 1-1/3 scoreless innings. At the plate, Ashevilleís Daniel Mayora went 2-for-4.

ï Asheville snapped a five-game losing streak by shutting down Greensboro 3-0 in front of 4,683 fans in Greensboro last Wednesday afternoon. Four Tourists pitchers combined to allow four hits by the Grasshoppers. Reliever Zach Simons (3-1), who allowed one hit in 2-2/3 innings, registered the win. Smacking RBI singles for Asheville were Jay Cox, Daniel Mayora and Matt Repec.

ï The Grasshoppers scored a run off a John Raynor double in the eighth inning to edge the Tourists 4-3 in front of 6,052 fans in Greensboro on May 22. Getting the loss for Asheville was Ethan Katz (3-2), who allowed one hit and one run in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

ï Greensboro edged Asheville 6-5 in 10 innings in front of 4,887 fans in Greensboro on May 21. Jake Blackwood swatted a solo home run in the 10th to secure the win for the Grasshoppers. Reliever Will Harris (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits in 1-1/3 innings.†